Random HTTP 500 error in WordPress

If the problem is easily reproducible (i.e. you can make it happen again and again by following a set of steps), do this:

  • Step 1: Document the steps required to cause the problem.
  • Step 2: Document all of the plugins you have running
  • Step 3: Deactivate all of your plugins!
  • Step 4: Perform the steps outlined in step 1
  • Step 5: If it’s still broken, then you’ve got a config error somewhere on your server.
  • Step 6: Activate the first plugin in the list from step 2.
  • Step 7: Perform the steps outlined in step 1
  • Step 8: Repeat steps 6-7 with every plugin until the site breaks to figure out what the culprit is.

I had this recently happen on my system, and it turned out to be a name conflict between two plugins I had running on my site.

Also, enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file … you might see a better error message, but no promises.

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